Welcome!

image montage of slavery related documents

Breaking the Chains is a major regional initiative that throughout 2007 focuses on commemorating the bi-centenary of the abolition of the slave trade on 25th March 1807.

Beyond 2007, Breaking the Chains will seek to secure the legacy of the bi-centenary, and ensure that debates around slavery, social justice and global inequalities are examined at a regional and community level.

This website has been sponsored by Advantage West Midlands, Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police.

Links

BBC: Abolition
On 25 March 1807, the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act was passed. Discover who the anti-trafficking campaigners were and the trade's lasting impact.
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Anti-Slavery International
Anti-Slavery International, founded in 1839, is the world's oldest international human rights organisation and the only charity in the United Kingdom to work exclusively against slavery and related abuses.
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Article of the Month!

Breaking the Chains Report
In 2006 Breaking the Chains West Midlands was convened by the Black History Foundation as part of a national initiative to to focus on the commemorations of the parliamentary abolition of the slave trade in 1807.The initial vision was to forma series of regional networks to co ordinate commemorative activities and initiatives with Birmingham and the West Midlands forming a national 'hub', and feeding into events that were happening in the major port cities of Liverpool, London and Bristol. At that stage, most of the attention for the Bicentenary was focused on those cities as they had been inextricably linked with the slave trade. The challenge for Breaking the Chains was to highlight the We...
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Featured News

What really happened in 1807?
For those of you who don't know, on the 25 March 1807 the Slave Trade Bill was passed by royal decree. It prohibited British vessels engaging in the slave trade by law? People keep asking me 'What are you doing for 2007'? A fair question.
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Blair says "Sorry"
"We shouldn't forget that although that act of parliament was passed 200 years ago, there are still modern examples of slavery and people trafficking that we need to act against.
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Latest Event

Leaving Legacies
On March Friday 28th 2008, Three Continents, One History Project will be holding an event called Leaving Legacies at The Drum, Birmingham. From 6 - 10pm

Three Continents, One History: Birmingham, the Transatlantic Slave Trade and the Caribbean is an African-Caribbean Millennium Centre (ACMC) project that has received a significant grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to explore the historical links between Birmingham, the Transatlantic Slave Trade and the Caribbean.

Our event at the Drum on 28th March sponsored by Grace Kennedy Foods aims to acknowledge our shared history and to be reflective of the diversity that is the city and region. 'How do we best remember?' We believe it is important that this event should offer an opportunity to take stock of the impact that that has been made up and down the country by projects such as Three Continents, One History in commemorating the parliamentary abolition of the slave trade in 1807.

It is an ambitious...
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Events

Leaving Legacies
On March Friday 28th 2008, Three Continents, One History Project will be holding an event called Leaving Legacies at The Drum, Birmingham
Go »

Interwoven Freedom
An exhibition of textile workbags and creative writing inspired by the history of abolitionist women in Birmingham and Black enslaved women who campaigned for the end of slavery
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